The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-15

heaviest SIf1m Was exEHflencrLf 1nt
trsin was ~ local one. heavily
laden with people. the majority
Of whom work in Boston and live in
ssbsrinn Villages. 1t WAS composed Of
seven passenger and one baggage car and
engine. The engine and three ears
passed safely over the bridge but when
the fourth car went down it drew back
/ the three which had crossed the bridge
! and which broke loose from the engine,
thus leaving the engine alone standing
| in safety upon the track. The engineer
| immediately ran his engine to the near
est station and telegraphed the news to
the railroad officials. Messengers sum-
moning surgical assistance were sent out
ON horseback. Surgeons were at once in
attendance and the injured passengers
received prompt attention. In the mean
time force of men set to work to re-
liese thoss pinned under the wreck
and the swecking train. at once
" wsnt to the scene. One hundred and
fifty mattresses were obtained at the
City Hospital and sent to the scene II
the accident by special train which also
carried a large nunher a snrgsons.
CAR GRINDING AGAINST CAR
The bridge svitien1ly gave way when
the fourth car was passing Over IT, The
five rear cars went shroWgh to the road
way below in a mass 0f splinters in the
street. The strain Of the five falling cars
pulled the three cars in advance from the
rail They remained on top Of the EN-
bankment hat were pulled of their
trucks, and the floor of each was forced
nearly To the roof, while the seats were
jumbIed together in great confusion.
Of splinters, caused by the car ahead
grinding against it when the others
went DOWN the eIubankment. The third
coacA was fiastened to the ground as if il
had fallea on its trucks from great
height. although il remained ON the edge
fourth car also remained ON the en-
hankment, having evidently been tom
from its fastenings, where the coach
went through. The next four cars went
down ina hsap. The smoker, which was
on the rear Of the train, falling in the
midst Of the coaches and being actually
sroupd into splinters. The inrnatss of
the smoker were all either killed or in
jured, not one escaping without injury Of
some kind. Two of the coaches went
clear across the roadway, landing against
stone wall that bounded large field at
- - l. L. A. 4. =
their present location, they present pic
ture of such absolute demolition it seems
remarkable that any person i'm them es-
capped alive.
SAVED THE HoRRoR or FIRE
That the horrors of fire were not added
to the terrible disaster was due to the
promptness with which relief was sent.
The chemical engine frpm Rf<lindale.
which was at the scene within twenty
miautes after the wreck occnrred.
WAS brought by letter carrier, who gave
the alarm Of fire upon Observing the
flames issuing frcm the debris. The
flames were soon extinguished and the
firemen did excellent work in rescuing
the injured. The stoves in all the cars
were securely fastened to the floors by iron
bolts and the doors Of the stoves We're
locked. In only one car did the stoves
upset, although in one instance the stove
was smashed clear through the roof of
the car in which it had been. -
WHAT AN EYE WITNESS SAW.
Only ans person h known 10 have
bsen IN eye witness of the disaster who
vss noe IN the train j. III. lennon.
fish dealer. whose stable was
ON the hill just above the bridge. Lennon
was hsrnessing his team, when the team
came along and he turned to ssee il pass.
He was horror struck when he saw the
train taks its awful plunge throagh the
bridge. For moment Lennon SAYS there
WAS perfect quiet. and then the. cries of
she injured were heard issuing from tho
debris. Seixing an axe from a barn,
Lennon started for the wreck. which he
reached in q moment. He climbed into
q window of one OF the coaches that had
landed against the stone wall, and set to
work to release those persons who had
been pinned down by broken timbers.
leonon, with his axe. released four
nna, Who were badly hurt, and handed
t6sm osst a the window 10 other men
whO had conse - the rescue. He salao
handed out the bodies of two dead women.
one Of whom was nearly decapitated.
and had both arms severed from her
body. During all this time, Lennon says,
the shrieks Of the wounded and the
groans OF the dying made pandemoniuIn
around him. In the meantime, other
passengers from the coaches that had re-
manned on top Of the embankment. and
who had escaped serious injury, had
joined in the work of rescue In short
time . corps Of rs>cuers and surgeons
were st the scene. As the dead were re-
moved they were laid in row ON the
stone wall. while the wounded were laid
ON cushions which were hastily gathered
together from ambulances and hacks
that had been sent from the city within
half an hour after the disaster occurred
and a. these conveyances reached the
scene they were at once started back to
the city with the dead blsiies and to the
city morxsae with the injured destined
for the hRlieal. A large number of the
injured were also taken to residences in
the vicinity, while others were sent to
depots at Forest Hill and Roslinsials.
Thoe passengers who escaped serious in
jury and were ah,e to proceed were taken
tn the junction at Forest Hill and then
Forwarded to- Their Jestinafiou in the CITY
proper.